By ALLISON RUWALDT
Alva’s elementary schools are in need of a big change, and the school board has decided that, because all three of the current elementary schools are slowly deteriorating, it is time for an update by building a new school.
“Everyone knows it’s a need.” said Jeremy Brashears, the superintendent of Alva schools. “It’s just time we need to do something.”
Currently, the school board is planning and detailing a bond proposal that can help fund a newly built school. This would combine all three current elementary schools into one building.
The school board is still finalizing the proposal before it can be considered by the board of education. No specific date is set for the bond vote.
While no proposal has been passed, the school board has details of the new school planned. There is a floor plan and location. Staff from the previous schools will be moving over.
The new school would have four classrooms for each grade, with the classrooms arranged in four pods. The school will also have two gyms, a music room and a cafeteria. It will be about 82,000 square feet and will be located on the east side Highway 281 across from VAP and G&G Furniture.
Washington and Longfellow elementary schools will be repurposed though plans are not set.
“They’re still good buildings, but I think not having 150-200 kids going through them will extend the life of those buildings.” Brashears said. “It can help us expand our educational offerings.”
Merging the three current elementary schools into one is not only good for the structural integrity of the buildings, but it will help the students stay on track and help the faculty create a better learning ecosystem.
By moving the schools together, teachers can communicate more easily about what students need to prepare for, as well as the convenience of keeping the music and gym teachers at one school.
The students would also have an easier time staying in the same building while moving grades.
Moving schools can be intimidating for a young child and adds uncertainty when it comes to the content and the teachers.
“It seems like every time kids move buildings, there’s a little bit of an education gap.” Brashears said. “We see it a lot between elementary and middle school.”
Students will be more comfortable with teachers they have seen in their building, and it can take away a lot of the pressure of not knowing what will come next.
Young students will also often feel that they are done with school completely when they graduate from one school to the next, but keeping the schools together will give students academic motivation for the next grade, he said.